Obituaries

Frank Jen, professor emeritus of finance in the School of Management, passed away April 22. He was nearly 88 and worked for the school from 1964 until his retirement in 1997.

Jen's research interests and activities spanned a broad range of topics in corporate finance, investment and banking. He founded the Bank Management Institute in 1977, which is recognized around the world as a benchmark-level program for middle and senior commercial lending officers. In the mid-80s, when China was contemplating opening its economy to the rest of the world, Jen recognized that managers needed to understand how to manage firms in a market economy. He played a leading role in helping the School of Management establish the first-ever U.S.-China MBA program, sponsored by the U.S. Commerce Department, as well as an Executive Development program there.

Jen earned both a doctorate and MBA from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, and a BS from North Central College in Illinois.

Over the course of his career, Jen served as a consultant to corporations and financial institutions, specializing in ventures in China, financial planning and control, portfolio management and money management strategies.

He was a mentor to many in the School of Management, from current faculty to doctoral students who went on to outstanding academic careers at such universities as Michigan, Rutgers, Illinois, Maryland, Canisius and Ohio State.